Climbing death results in indictment by grand jury

An amusement company faces manslaughter charges four years after a young woman died from a fall from one of their climbing walls during a concert at the Comcast Center in Mansfield.

Kaplan and Robbins Inc. was indicted Thursday by a Bristol County grand jury on manslaughter charges, District Attorney Sam Sutter said.

Stacy Sarrette, 24, of Saugus died as a result of injuries suffered from a fall while climbing a rock wall at the former Tweeter Center in Mansfield in 2005.

Kaplan and Robbins Inc. was indicted for corporate manslaughter due to its alleged reckless and wanton negligence, according to the DA’s office. The corporation will be arraigned in Superior Court at a later date.

The case was investigated by Trooper Anne Marie Robinson of District Attorney Sutter’s State Police Unit.

“Our lengthy investigation into this incident revealed this corporation, through its egregious conduct, failed to protect Ms. Sarrette,” Sutter said. “When a corporation offers entertainment or rides that have some risk for patrons, the company must ensure that it has taken all necessary steps to ensure the safety of those who participate.

“In this case, that clearly was not done. The corporation’s actions with respect to the lack of training provided to its employees and the location of the ride, were both reckless and wanton.”

On May 22, 2005, Sarrette was racing her cousin Kaitlyn Mulcahy up the Rocky Mountain Inflatable Wall at the WKLB Country Music Festival before falling and hitting the back of her head on the sidewalk. She suffered severe back, head and neck injuries. She was declared brain dead on her birthday and died on May 27.